How to Select an Air Fryer Oven

Air fryers are compact, countertop appliances that envelop your food in super-hot air to give it a crisp and deep-fried texture. They are a great alternative to traditional baking, using little to no added oil to achieve that deep-fried flavor and crispiness.

The best air fryer ovens have a few features that make them stand out from your typical convection oven. These include fast-moving fans and true convection, which means that your food will be cooked to a crispier, more golden state.

Convection is faster and more efficient than air frying, but it's not an option in all oven models. Some models have a separate convection setting for when you want to use the oven for other purposes, such as roasting or broiling.

When selecting a model, it's important to consider its size and how much space it takes up on your counter. This will affect the number of recipes you can prepare with it and whether it's a good fit for your kitchen layout.

Whether you're cooking from scratch or buying pre-made foods, it's important to follow the recipe or package directions for cooking time and temperature. For example, frozen chicken wings will need to be baked in the oven rather than air fried.

An air fryer can be a great option for adding an extra cooking capability to your kitchen and can be useful when you only need to prepare a single batch of fried dishes like chicken wings, bacon or zucchini fries. However, it cannot replace a full-sized oven and will not be as convenient when you need to prepare large quantities of multi-dish meals.